Compare towns

Brasher vs Olean vs Olean

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Olean has the highest household income ($75k).
Olean has the most people working from home (8.4%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureBrasherOleanOlean
People
Population
2,592
1,664Lowest
13,738Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-4.2%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-3.6%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
46.6±9
17% above NY
53.8±5.5Highest
35% above NY
39±2.6Lowest
about the NY average
Olean and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.4%±6.2
NY: 20.5%
15.6%±4.5Lowest
NY: 20.5%
23.5%±2.9Highest
NY: 20.5%
Olean and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.5%±5
NY: 17.9%
25.2%±5.1Highest
NY: 17.9%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Olean and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
10.6%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
23.3%
NY: 40.2%
29.9%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.2Highest
NY: 7%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
NY: 7%
3.6%±1.1
NY: 7%
Brasher and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$53,911±$14k
37% below NY
$74,583±$20kHighest
13% below NY
$51,261±$7kLowest
40% below NY
Olean and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$124,300±$24k
71% below NY
$158,600±$17kHighest
63% below NY
$86,100±$6kLowest
80% below NY
Olean and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$730±$195
55% below NY
$666±$334Lowest
59% below NY
$794±$52Highest
51% below NY
Olean and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,500Lowest
62% below NY
$4,027Highest
39% below NY
$3,130
52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.3%±27.2Highest
NY: 52.1%
57.1%±25.5
NY: 52.1%
52%±9.1Lowest
NY: 52.1%
Brasher and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
22.4%
NY: 14%
16.3%Lowest
NY: 14%
26.7%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.4%
NY: 54.3%
77.9%Highest
NY: 54.3%
55.1%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
19 yrs newer than NY
1962
3 yrs newer than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minHighest
37% below NY
19 min
43% below NY
14 minLowest
56% below NY
Work from home
1.9%±1.8Lowest
NY: 14.9%
5.8%±4.7
NY: 14.9%
8.4%±2.6Highest
NY: 14.9%
Olean and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #300 of 484 in NY #337 of 484 in NY #337 of 484 in NY
School district BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None in town — OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.